2012 Audi S6 Spy Shots

The first spy shots of the upcoming 2012 Audi S6 emerged in March, and surprisingly, it wasn't wearing anything in the way of camouflage. Perhaps with the new A6 already out and about, Audi thought it would slip under the radar--but it didn't, and it hasn't this time, either, as our spies captured the car in testing again, including shots of the carbon fiber-clad interior.

The 2012 S6 is expected to get a punchier version of Audi's upcoming 4.0-liter V-8 engine, taking the place of the 435-horsepower V-10 engine in the current 2011 S6. Leaked specs for the car peg the new V-8's output at 434 horsepower, so it won't be giving up any performance despite lopping off two cylinders.

We expect the S6 to make its debut at this September's Frankfurt Motor Show, though it's possible it may wait longer. In the U.S., it may even skip the 2012 model year entirely, coming as an early 2013 model sometime late next summer. The seriously hot RS6 will come as much as a year later.

As you can see in the newest images above, the S6's interior isn't a drastic departure from what we've seen from Audi in the past, but it does step up the performance look and feel with some carbon fiber elements and S6 badging on the instrument cluster. The outside of the car likewise gets a tasteful, if minimal, set of upgrades to its body work, with lower side skirts and quad exhaust tips nestled in the rear bumper. The front end is also likely to get some more aggressive intake and grille work, but remains mostly stock in this prototype.

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Did I miss something, or did this new Audi not change in body style for the 2012 model?
Brad

archknight
Posted: 3/7/2011 6:42pm PST

No Brad, that's the consensus from just about everyone who sees it. It basically got new head and tail lamps, interior, and supposedly a new chassis to ride on.

archknight
Posted: 3/7/2011 7:40pm PST

"It may even skip the 2012 model year entirely, coming as an early 2013 model."
Sorry Nelson, this is highly unlikely as the V8 versions of the E-Class and 5-series are already on the market. The A/S models of the 6 will hit the market at the same time to bolster sells. They didn't do this with the flagship A8 because it's not one of the bread and butter sedans.

Daniel
Posted: 3/9/2011 7:58am PST

There is a lot of positive going around Audi these days. 2010 proved to be its most successful year ever and now they are launching a new refined body. I am intrigued.